Motor-vehicle.



13. P. COWLES.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.6, 1914.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. P. UOWLES MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 0, 1914 1, 1 1 2,62 8: Patented 001;. 6, 1914 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

n ie:\. 115? varied Candi? ieii'ing specific- 25 the accompany flignre l is a hmiying my "have i? eiei'ziiieii. in ii ing and is driven from the mote? W111 he hereinafter described.

i-L frame comprising; side here and cross hers B9 shown as connecting the from and 'aiso incineies suitable speed changi geari? elm suppqrts the motor end theeioss 9 prevent the yeke members 82, 82 iining under the i'ezietioz'i f the driv- .ii' )0 90. The connections between 2's 5% and the axles merie long T-shaped eeupiinge 85 in which file bars and axles free to turn, and the bars 89 are connected to the reach 4- b similar freely turning, long-heel shaped couplings 91. A second and n rame 112, which may he termed the name, is mounted above the frame where 8%., and is supported from the axles 2011 sm'iigs 127. This hociy frame 112 is few i formed of two U-shepeci pieces of iiihin with their st eight ends joined toy' thei' 1s at 113. A s iitahie body 1.1.8 may r itfi on the frame 112 and the steerf3? and, the nio'soi' centre}. 'ievices 111:; h Si hihly errengei'i thereon.

Hy the springs 1527 are of p {2111 elliptical type, there being two on exie, 01 about the same tension, and

the body caused by the mystical either 22:10 as ii Wheel runs over an ion 0 drops into M iii, wiii he haii as (huf axle, 01 ii mean between 1e purpose of making ti e e to the running;

'1 hmiy more a. ieecien is iiseci comprisin i a yield- 21 rock secured by clips in said frame. each end of this ehnit extend short di arms 135 and piveiai y connected h extend down 2111'! ar pivoted to hers S4 of the lower "f nine by "in is obvious that while the body ilv, free to play up and down its 1': through iihe (we pivots 137 on the Q rem ii ies and forming reach here. This across the body i mm: with heair- 1W5 held rigidly pa aiiei with aline.

front and rear axle at whatever angle they may make with respect to each other, or when any wheel runs over an obstruction or drops into a depression, the body will tilt one-half as much as the axle supported by that wheel.

When the vehicle is moving at a very high speed imperfections in the road bed would produce concussions that if the arms In 135 were rigidly fastened to shaft 133 would endanger breaking or bending of parts, or give unpleasant jolts to occupants. To remedy this I mount the arms 135 loosely on shaft 133 and provide stops 138 that prevent said arms from turning down but allow them to turn up to a limited extent. Coiled springs 139 fitted around the shaft each having one end attached to a hub of an arm 135 and the other end'to a collar 140 force the arms 135 down against stops 138. For all ordinary conditions therocker arms 135 act the same as though attached rigidly to the shaft 133, but with an unusual joltthey yield and relieve parts of undue strain. The 5 collar 140 is loose on shaft 133 and has ratchet teeth out in the face opposite spring 139, which engage with corresponding teeth out in the face of a collar 141 which is firmly; fixed on shaft 133. By turning collar 140 3 any degree of tension desired can. be given to the springs 139.

supporting frame which in the present instance is the lower frame comprising the side' bars 84. Extending laterally and horizontally from the sides of the motor 144, and

preferably near its center of gravity, are. brackets 145, the outer ends of which are supported upon the side bars 84. A flexible 0 support for these brackets is shown comprisin; half elliptical springs 146 to which the brackets 145 are firmly bolted, and the ends of the springs are connected by links 147 to short posts 148 secured by clips to the side 5 bars 84. The elasticity of the springs accommodates the vertical twisting of the bars 84, causing the motor to ride verv smoothly. One end of the motor 144 has a further support from the frame members 84 through its connection, as by brackets 14?),

with the middle part of a cross member 142 which is so connected at its ends with the side bars 34 that the vertical movements of one side bar are transmitted through said cross member 142 to the other side bar.

This latter connection, in the embodiment shown, comprises a rock shaft 149 extending through the cross member 142 and liav ing arms 135 rigidly attached to its ends,

' said arms being connected to the frame bars 84 by links 135. VVith the spring mounting of the central part of the motor on the supporting frame, the rock shaft 149 and its connections act to transmit the torque reas mino of the motor to the frame and axles.

The motor is connected to the driving gear by means of the flexible and extensible shafts s,.these shafts being similar to the shafts 53 of my Patent No. 654,716. Therefore the motor shaft can be deflected considerably from its normal position without interfering with the transmission of power from the motor to the driving gear, or impairing the eilicient working, and consequently the motor is free to play up and down with the springs or oscillate in any direction, the elasticity of the spring allowing it, to a limited extent, to rock laterally or horizontally and the links 147 allowing it to vibrate longitudinally and in the case of a chain drive, accommodate a distance piece to regulate tension of chain and twist horizontally. This manner of mounting a self-contained motor flexibly has one other important advantage. The heavy balance wheel necessary on all explosive motors revolving at a high rate of speedfrom 600 to 1000 revolutions per minute-acts as a powerful gyroscope that resists with great force any sudden change in its plane of revolution, and the motor of the vehicle over an uneven road bed has a. tendency to constantly change the plane of revolution of this whecl resulting in subjecting the motor and vehicle frame to great strains. This strain is most direct and severe on the motor shaft and The motor 144 is mounted upon a motor bearings, and has a very destructive eflect. With a self-contained motor mounted flexibly. as hereiubcforc "described, the gyrostatic action of the balance wheel is accommodated. For instance, if either set of wheels were to drop into a depression or run over an obstruction changing the plane of the running gear, the gyrostatic principle would cause the balance wheel to oscillate with respect to the running gear and as the flexible mounting hereinbefore described accommodates this oscillation, all of the parts are relieved from strain. Practically the balance wheel controls and steadies the mo- 11o tor and gives it stability.

The motor frame can be extended to carrV the accessories, such as oil tank, water tank, steam generator, storage battery, etc., according to the kind of motor employed. Preferably ll would place these accessories in the body frame andconnect them to the motor by flexible conduits. That for water, steam. compressed air, etc, could be common hose. That for oil could be jointed pipe of a form well known to persons skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a driving axle, a motor supporting frame, a motor flexibly mounted on the frame, a flexible longitudinally extending driving shaft, connecting the motor to the driving axle, 130

and means connected with the motor and said frame for preventing the motor turning, relatively to the frame, about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a driving axle, a motor supporting frame, a motor supported on springs on said frame, a flexible longitudinally extending driving shaft connecting the motor to the driving axle, and a member extending transversely of the motor and connected thereto for preventing the motor turning, relatively to the frame, about .an extending longitudinally of the vehicle.

3. In. a motor vehicle, the combination of a motor supporting frame comprising side bars, a motor having laterally extended supporting arms or brackets, means connecting said arms to said side bars whereby the motor is supported thereon, a cross bar adjacent one end of said motor and connected to said frame, and means connecting said motor to said cross bar.

4:. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a motor supporting frame comprising side bars, a cross bar connected to said frame, a

motor, supporting arms or brackets extending laterally from the motor, means connecting said arms to said frame, and means con necting said motor to said cross bar, one of said means being flexible and permitting relative movement of the motor and adjacent parts of the frame and the other of said means being rigid and tending to limit the extent of said movement.

5. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a motor supporting frame comprising side bars, a motor having laterally extended supporting arms or brackets, means connecting said arms to said side bars whereby the motor is supported thereon, a cross bar adjacent one end of said motor and connected at both ends to said frame, and means connecting said motor to said cross bar at the middle portion of the cross bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD P. COWLES. 

